Damascus Old City

If you are into biblical history, you may want to visit the Old City of Damascus and follow in St. Paul's footsteps when he escaped from Damascus. Founded in the 3rd millennium B.C., Damascus is one of the oldest cities in the Middle East. In the Middle Ages, it was the centre of a flourishing craft industry, specializing in swords and lace. The city has some 125 monuments from different periods of its history – one of the most spectacular is the 8th-century Great Mosque of the Umayyads, built on the site of an Assyrian sanctuary. The beautiful and historical the old city has an uncertain future. In the past decade, over 20,000 people have moved out of the Old City in favour of modern accommodations leaving buildings abandoned and in disrepair. In 2007 the local government announced plans to demolish part of the Old City along with a 4,600ft section of the wall to make way for redevelopment. As a result, the Old City was placed on the World Monuments Fund’s 2008 Watch List of the 100 Most Endangered Sites in the world.

There are seven city gates entering the old walled city, the oldest which dates back to the Roman period. Bab al-Saghir - the small gateBab al-Faradis - the gate of the orchards or of the paradiseBab al-Salam - the gate of peaceBab Tuma - Thomas's Gate leading into the Christian quarter of the same nameBab Sharqi -the eastern gate, the only one to retain its Roman planBab Kisan - tradition holds this is the gate where Saint Paul made his escape from DamascusBab al-Jabiya - at the entrance to Souk Midhat Pasha, in the south-west.

The Place of St. Paul’s EscapePaul of Tarsus, also known as Saint Paul, converted to Christianity on the road from Jerusalem to Damascus after the crucifixion of Christ. According to the accounts, around the year 36, Paul was on his way from Jerusalem to Damascus to arrest followers of Jesus, with the intention of returning them as prisoners for questioning and possible execution. The journey was interrupted when Paul saw a blinding light, and communicated directly with a divine voice. A few years later he returned to Damascus to preach the Christian message but was met with opposition by the Jews who plotted to kill him. St. Paul learned about this plot, but since the Jews were carefully watching the gates of the city all day and night, the Christians took him by night and let him down from the walls in a basket. Recalling this episode, St. Paul says that it was through a window that he escaped from certain death (2 Cor 11,32-33). Christian tradition identifies a window beside the Kisan Gate, as the window from which St. Paul was lowered. The gate is now closed and a chapel built into the structure marks the event.

A shop keeper texts in between customers

Selling arabic tea

Teresa having lunch in the old city

Women's fashion

Old City Souk

Bulk nuts for sale

Some Syrian women chatting

Syrian man walking in old city

Old Damascene Houses (Wikipedia)Azm Palace - is a palace in Damascus, Syria which was originally built in 1750 as a residence for the Ottoman governor of Damascus As'ad Pasha al-Azm. The palace now houses the Museum of Arts and Popular Traditions.Bayt al-Aqqad - is an old Damascene house that hosts the Danish Institute in Damascus, Syria. The history of the building is more than 2000 years: Remains of the theatre of Herod the Great were found in the outer walls and now forms a part of the wall in the secretary’s office.Maktab Anbar- is an old house in the center of Old Damascus near the Umayyad Mosque and a short distance from the Street Called Straight. The house was built as a private residence by a local Jewish notable Mr. Anbar in the mid 19th century. The house is built around three courtyards, first the formal reception courtyard, behind this the attractive female courtyard, and finally the spartan servants' courtyard. The main sections were completed at tremendous expense, and due to high costs Mr. Anbar abandoned the project In 1887. The Ottomans, who then occupied Syria, completed the project adding two wings and converting the house into a boys' school. The house was restored by the Ministry of Culture in 1976. It now holds a library exhibition hall, museum and craft workshopsBeit al-Mamlouka is a luxury boutique hotel located in the old city of Damascus, Syria. It was established in 2005 in the city's oldest borough, the Christian quarter of Bab Touma. The hotel is a restoration of a 17th century old Damascene house and offers 8 different rooms each named after a famous historic figure of Arab or Muslim history, like Averroes and Baybars. There are original paintings and features from the 18th century, together with a mid 16th century archway and a 200 year Christian fresco.

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